NieR Dated in Japan

Over in Japan today, Square Enix announced a final release date for the Cavia-developed action title NieR. Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will arrive there on April 22.

If only it were that simple. In Japan, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of NieR are different. The PS3 version, titled NieR Replicant, has a young Nier main character out to save his younger sister. The Xbox 360 version, titled NieR Gestalt, has an older Nier, out to save his daughter.

Gestalt is based off the version of NieR that both PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will be getting worldwide. It even has English voices, compared to Replicant's Japanese voices.

Square Enix hasn't been entirely clear on the exact differences between the two versions, but April 22 isn't too far away, so we can probably expect some comparisons.

Whatever differences come to light, remember that unless you import on your PS3, you'll eventually be playing as the old Nier. When this will happen depends on when Square Enix decides to announce an international release date for the game.